Gardiner's 30 lift Mount past LIU for berth in NEC semifinals, 75-56

March 06, 1996|By FROM STAFF REPORTS

EMMITSBURG -- Freshman forward Megan Gardiner scored a game-high 30 points to lead Mount St. Mary's to a 75-56 victory over Long Island in a Northeast Conference women's tournament quarterfinal last night at Knott Arena.

The Mountaineers, two wins away from a third straight trip to the NCAA tournament, face Monmouth tomorrow at home in the semifinals.

Gardiner scored 16 in the first half as the Mountaineers (20-7, 15-3) opened a 41-27 lead, ending the half with a 6-0 run.

In the second half, the Blackbirds (11-16, 7-11) cut the Mount lead to 45-39 with 14: 23 left, but a 30-11 Mount run over the next 13 minutes put the game away.

Amy Langville (Archbiship Spalding) was two assists short of a triple double, with 11 points, a team-high 10 rebounds and eight assists.